Wednesday, September 28, 2011

The Grapes of No Wrath

Remember how people used to buy ice cream in pails?  I mean other people.  Not you or I. Well, I'm glad they did, especially the folks who used to own this place. They definitely liked their ice cream in pails. She must have decided she didn't need them where she was going (no, she didn't die, she just moved to a condo in Iowa).  No grapes to tend, no garden. I wonder if she ever misses either, or if she's just glad to be free of them....

Anyway, I'm loving those pails as they have been the perfect thing to use when picking grapes. I am happy to report, this year produced fifteen pails of grapes, and there are more we simply could not reach on top of the arbor. Coleman, my younger son, and I, picked yesterday morning and had the best time in that fall sunshine. While we picked grapes, we talked about life and planned for the wine. It was a perfect fall day. Since it's getting late in the season, I did a little pruning as we went. Next year it will be easier to get those on top.

Buddy and one of Coleman's dogs played in the leaves near us until they got hot and took shelter under the picnic table. Buddy liked having a play date and he absolutely adores Coleman. He is the picture of excitement when I even say Coleman's name. That dog knows good energy.

So, Coleman and his girl, Britta (speaking of good energy), are pressing the grapes and going through the process at their house. Coleman said the best part of making the wine is giving some bottles away after it's finished. Older son, Trevor, was over last weekend and said it would be fun to have a family vineyard. It does sound like fun, despite those family business pitfalls. It probably will never happen, but that doesn't matter, it's the idea that counts, not the manifestation of it.  We're having a good time here. 

And, since I'm on a Raymond Carver kick:

"There isn't enough of anything
as long as we live. But at intervals
a sweetness appears and, given a chance
prevails."



My photographs, before frost: underneath the grapevines, on the corner of the arbor, I discovered a head, well, a skull, now serving as a bird house, an animal skull (let's make that clear), but I couldn't ID it. Any ideas?


The Bone Lady lives!




47 comments:

  1. The previous owner is in a better place now... a condo in Iowa. Nevermind.

    Wine! I want to make a joke about Grape Expectations, but I'm too ashamed.

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  2. Hey, I showed restraint, now you have to.

    And ashamed? You should be. Grape Expectations.

    Actually, I got to use the line "What's Eating Gilbert Grape?" today, while thinking of the movie for seemingly unrelated reasons.

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  3. What a fun day for you and your son. That is such a special time. The dogs just add to the joy of the day. Make the wine and tell us all about it. Great day!!!

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  4. Your grape arbor photo was beautiful. You will have many rewards from it over the years. I bet your former owner has a bit of nostalgia for your place ever so often. Obviously she loved it to have such a nice arbor. Those pails will come in handy in the country. -- barbara

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  5. I think it's a dinosaur skull. :)
    Wow. Homemade wine--such a good idea. That's cool that your son lives nearby.
    Nice Carver.

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  6. Hi Linda M., Yes, it's the joy of living near my children.



    Hi Lynne, It was just such a beautiful day, and the weather has been perfect lately.



    Hi Barbara, Her husband, the original owner of the land, passed in 2005, and I bought the place last year, so she kept what had been his passion, originally, alive for many years and she did so beautifully. I want to honor all they did for this piece of land.




    Hey there, Rubye Jack! that's a very good guess. Dinosaur skull - 1. Raptor or T-Rex? :)

    Yeah, he lives ten minutes away and the older son, Trevor, lives two and a half hours away. It's good to be closer again after so many years in SF.

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  7. Wow, it would be a shock to come across that skull. I think T rex had a rounder skull; this seems like a velociraptor.

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  8. Wow wee. What a fun day. Indian summer is upon us too and it's that time of year when you never want to go indoors. If that Witch would come and grant 3 wishes, I'd only take one and wish for Indian Summer year round. (I suppose that phrase is now politically incorrect, too.)
    My laundry room has turned into my wine room. Smells mighty fine. Happy wine making.
    Manzanita@Wannabuyaduck

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  9. There are quite a lot of teeth for a deer skull but then again I never saw inside a deer's mouth. Ha. Ah the grapes, I loved the ones I grew in California and I miss those gardens terribly (but I don't miss all the work) so I would assume the previous owner does miss the gardens there how could she not, having created them, but at least she knows they are well taken care of and loved by you and your children and other visitors. Making wine and giving away bottles what a great project.

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  10. Hi Nancy, New pic! I like it! Yes, I was kinda thinkin' velociraptor, as well. :) Otis, the man who started all this, must have lived a full, rich life.



    Hi Manzanita, I read where you're doing elderberry wine? Sounds yummy. If we lived closer, we'd be able to exchange a bottle. So, was it the witch granting wishes or Indian summer that might be not so PC? tee hee. I'm always going to say Indian summer. There are limits to just how PC I"m willing to be. Besides, I've heard some Indians prefer it to Native American. But then, it was probably some white man who said that. LOL

    A laundry room turned into a wine room sounds like a good conversion!




    Linda S., Not a deer, I don't think, and I doubt it's a bear skull, but if it is, I would be one happy gal.

    The lady I bought the place from was the second wife to the man who created all this. He was actually considered a "master gardener," she said, however that title is earned. He was good, and had very lovingly taken care of this land. She took up the care after he passed.

    Yes, it's a good project, an interesting and fun thing to do.

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  11. Hello Teresa:
    It is such a wonderful time of year when the grape harvest is in full swing and communities work together to bring in the season's crop.

    A family wine business sounds like a wonderful idea but the division of labour might prove to be a source of tension if not fully worked out at the start....and what if someone fails to deliver?!!!!

    It is so good that you have your children living close and that you get to see each other often. And, what could be nicer than picking grapes together on a beautiful autumn day?

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  12. Jane and Lance, No, a family business is not in our future. Those pitfalls.... It is a nice idea, but it shall remain an idea only.

    Moving back to Minnesota from the southwest has been an adjustment, but seeing my boys regularly makes it a very good move. Running into them in the grocery store, seeing them on the road and waving, the older one, who lives further away, coming over for the night... it's irreplaceable. Very good company.

    Yes, it was truly a perfect autumn day.

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  13. I used to freeze the juice and make a sorbet with it.I like to just eat them.

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  14. I think fifteen pails of grapes sound like a wonderful harvest! And then to be able to drink the wine from them? Amazing! I am always thrilled to read about your gentle life, Teresa. :-)

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  15. My Greek grandmother used to make a pudding from the sediment of the wine making. A relative would make the wine, bring her a jug, and then another with the sediment. I think it is called the "must". Best pudding ever. I would sneak small slivers of it from the refrigerator, sure no one would notice (duh?).

    Such a hard working and wonderful activity of an Autumn day. I, too, could take Indian summer forever. The Chicago Tribune used to post a nostalgic picture on its Sunday magazine cover, all browns and yellows and rusts, of a campfire, vermillion sky and leaves and a father and son and it helped mark the season. Of course, it is now considered politically incorrect, but, gosh, I'd love to see it printed again.

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  16. "(no, she didn't die, she just moved to a condo in Iowa)." Truthfully, Teresa, I'm struggling to find the difference. Hee Hee Hee

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  17. DJan, Yes, it will end up being at least a dozen bottles. Perfect. "A gentle life." I like that. Thank you!

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  18. The Carver poem from yesterday and the line today are beckoning to me. I'm going to check out his poetry in our local library and read some. Then I'll probably present myself with a gift of one book of his poetry.
    I gift myself a lot!

    Your grape and pail, son and dog day yesterday sounds so serene and lovely.

    Peace.

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  19. Hello Cletis. Well, I decided to show some restraint. You, apparently could not. teehee.

    Iowa does have some redeeming qualities: good dark earth for crops, for one. Then there's... The Iowa Writer's Workshop! The best in the country! Never been, but it sounds cool. Greg Brown and Iris DeMent live in Iowa. That's three things. You will notice that a condo is not one of them.

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  20. Good Grief! I'm out of turn again! Steve! A sorbet sounds wonderful. Thank you for that suggestion!

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  21. Lifeonthecutoff Penny! Yes, the must! Now we're going to have to try our hand at the pudding. Sounds almost sinful! And perfect! :)

    I think we've taken the whole PC thing too far, but then I know we needed to have some real sensitivity training as a nation, as well. Indian summer it is for me and will always be. I don't have tribal rights, just some blood that seems to be flowing in my veins, stronger than ever.

    Plus, you just wrote some wonderful things about Iowa. Thank You, for helping me to see the light!

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  22. Dee, I think we should gift ourselves with books as often as possible.

    It was a lovely day.

    And peace to you.

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  23. How wonderful : picking your own grapes, pressing your own wine. I hope the end result is as balanced, sweet and palatable as your blog posts - I am sure it will be.

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  24. Alaaan, Thank you. That's such a sweet thing to say. :)

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  25. It sounds like a wonderful day with your son and his girlfriend. It is always so nice to be outdoors and your vineyard looks so "Tuscany". 15 pails...wow! Maybe you can post a picture of a finished bottle of wine. I would love to see how it turns out. What will you call the family vineyard?

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  26. LadyCat, Well, one grape arbor doesn't make a vineyard, not yet, but we're having fun and that's what counts. We'll end up with maybe a dozen bottles of wine. We'll see how this year goes.

    I call my place LOnewolf.

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  27. Sounds idyllic - a perfect day, such sweetness. Amazing, or maybe not so amazing, what great company our children are when they grow up. My daughter is some way away in London but my son is still here - I love being with both of them, love sunshine and grapes too.

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  28. Hi Avril, Yes, idyllic is the perfect word. My children are a wonderful part of my life. They are such good men.

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  29. Hello Teresa!
    I heard in my mind "The days of wine and roses" when I read your post, although you did not mention roses! A lovely day with family and dogs and "wine to be".
    I have looked and looked at that skull. I love mysteries. If you don't know what it is then it doesn't help that I think it looks like a horse's skull. You would know if it is a horse. Is it possible to find dinosaurs in the earth? I thought they were in other places. A bear hasn't got such a long skull. I'll have to give up, but I shall wonder about this mysterious forever! It isn't a wolf either!! A lone wolf! You'll keep me awake all night! ´)

    Grethe

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  30. Hi Grethe! No, it's definitely not a dinosaur. We girls just got into the silly factor, I think. You may be right. It may be a horse. It is definitely more elongated. Perhaps the owner had a beloved horse and he kept the skull. ?!? Perhaps we can ask for Jack's help, in case it is a horse. He may know.

    Try to get some sleep. :)

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  31. Ahhh! Crisp fall days, dog company, time with your son, laughter, remembering Gilbert Grape, buckets of fresh harvest...it sounds absolutely wonderful!

    What's the matter with Iowa?! Every spot on earth has pros and cons...and, yes, Iowa has the premiere destination on earth for writers. I can only dream of writing in Iowa--LOL! ;)

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  32. Hi Rita, It was a wonderful day. I can't imagine one better.

    Years ago, I dreamed of attending that workshop. It sounds great, doesn't it?

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  33. Beware wine! Particularly too much wine, and the hangovers which come from consuming too much wine. Verily, such hangovers are the wrath of grapes.

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  34. Rob, It sounds like you know whereof you speak. Haven't had a wine hangover. I usually fall asleep from it before I have that opportunity. It sounds most unpleasant.
    Thanks for stopping by.

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  35. I've got elderberry 'wine' bubbling away at my house at the moment.

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  36. Friko, That sounds good, too. Another reader, Manzanita, has some fermenting in her laundry room turned winery. It makes me realize how many different possibilities there are for wine. Thank You!

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  37. Iowa is a great place. The state produced John Wayne, Johnny Carson, Cloris Leachman, Merideth Willson, Bob Feller, Buffalo Bill Cody, Grant Wood, and Jerry Mathers as the "Beaver." lol
    According to my grape grower friends the vines are benefitted by the addition of male urine to the root stock.

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  38. Steven, Iowa has produced some great talent. I've written about Grant Wood. And we can't forget the Beav!

    I shall certainly keep that male urine in mind for the future. Are you offering? :)

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  39. Whatever it takes to further the grape vine production and the harvest - Count me in. I'm a team player. If a grapevine grows in Minnesota it must be hardy and sturdy. As it should be. Are those "Marquette" grapes?

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  40. Steven, It's hardy and sturdy and quite old, I believe. I didn't plant it; the man who built this place from scratch did and he's gone, so I don't know what kind of grapes they are. I'm not even sure how to go about finding out. But I will. It would be nice to know. Last year they were larger and had more time to fully ripen. This year they were late and a bit smaller, but I just bought this place last summer (2010) so I'm still learning about it.

    Who are you? :)

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  41. What a fun, kinda magical day! You're blessed, Teresa, really blessed! Enjoy these days!

    About that skull - humm, too many teeth for a deer - got any wolves up there?

    The previous owner sounds like a lovely lady who left you a lot of good karma. I think she thinks of what she had with warm memories, but knows she had to move on. I also think she thinks you are the perfect person to tend her grapes.

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  42. Hi Kittie, I do think she felt good about my purchase of this place. I'm trying to honor it's beauty and all it offers. Thank You!

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  43. Hi Teresa. I cruise over here when ever I want to read some great writing, view some fabulous photos, get grounded in life, and see a picture of a beautiful woman and her dog.

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  44. Steven, Well, I'm glad that you do. Thank you, kind sir.

    And the mystery shall remain....

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  45. There is no mystery that I like you and your incredible zest for life. Not to mention your inner and outer beauty.
    As you might have guessed I spent many years in Iowa and I'm now a resident of the North Star State. Metro based but I love lakes and forests.

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  46. Steven, I have an email address on my profile, to protect my privacy, if you're so inclined....

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